January 29, 2025 at 4:36 A.M. PST—“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” ― Charles Dickens, from A Tale of Two Cities.
Dickens, with his Sun in Aquarius, might as well have been speaking directly to the paradox of our modern world. Aquarius, with its black-sheep knack for progress and rebellion, asks us to hold space for bold ideas that emerge at the edge of despair. The New Moon occurring Wednesday the 29th gives us a blank canvas to paint our most progressive ideas with strokes unburdened by expired expectations and flaccid beliefs.
The Five of Swords and the Art of Moving On
The Moon meets the Sun in the first decan of Aquarius. This decan is associated with the Five of Swords in the Tarot, a card that speaks to the tension between triumph and loss. It represents moments when victory comes at a price, often requiring us to question our approach or our values. In the context of this New Moon, the Five of Swords invites us to examine what we may need to release in order to move forward—whether that’s old beliefs, stubborn attachments, or the need to be right. It’s time to lay our sword down and sashay away. True progress comes not steeping in grievances, but from deliberately avoiding the mind traps that would enslave us.
Think Big, Stay Curious
This lunation forms a supporting trine to Jupiter in Gemini. Jupiter in Gemini is an excellent partner for the Moon in Aquarius, both signs sharing a love of intellectual exploration and a drive for discovery. This trine encourages an expansive exchange of ideas, inspiring us as a collective to reach beyond the limits of what we thought possible as individuals. It’s an invitation to think big—yet remain grounded in curiosity. Conversations during this time can spark insight that leads to incredible breakthroughs, particularly when we approach our discussions with an open mind.
Power, Progress, and Potential: Pluto & Uranus New Moon signatures
Another recent alignment was the Sun’s conjunction with Pluto on January 21st—the first time in over two centuries that these two celestial forces have met in Aquarius. Pluto, the planet of death, rebirth, power, manipulation, and control, met the Sun in Aquarius, a sign that represents the frontier and thrives on progress, innovation, technology, and collective awakening. Their conversation, held on the 21st, speaks to a profound shift, one that makes way for a very different looking future especially when it comes to technology, power, and wealth. The conjunction between the Sun and Pluto sets the tone for the energy of this New Moon, infusing it with deep, transformative potential.
And then on January 30th, Uranus—the Great Awakener—stations direct, another shift that amplifies the overall energy of change and innovation. If you’ve been feeling the tension of things being stuck in your life or sense that a cycle has been hard to break, Uranus’ direct motion will help release that pent-up energy. If you have any personal planets in the fixed signs between 20-25 degrees, you can expect your desire for breakthrough and autonomy to fuel forward momentum now, empowering you to make bold decisions that align with your true self and future aspirations.
Building a Paradigm for the Greater Good ♒
Aquarius, as a fixed air sign traditionally ruled by Saturn, can be emotionally detached; but its heart beats for the collective. There’s an inherent idealism in Aquarius, a belief that we can shape a future that serves the greater good, that everyone has a part to play in the unfolding of a new paradigm. In the words of another Aquarian Sun, Abraham Lincoln, “I have an irrepressible desire to live till I can be assured that the world is a little better for my having lived in it.” The New Moon in Aquarius offers us an invitation to lean into our quirkiest, most authentic selves, recognizing that our individuality is what makes our contributions to the collective so valuable.